Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility01:13

Actin Polymerization and Cell Motility

7.2K
Actin is a family of globular proteins that are highly abundant in eukaryotic cells. It makes up approximately 1-5% of total cell protein concentration. Actin monomers polymerize to form a complex network of polarized filaments, the actin cytoskeleton, that plays a crucial role in many cellular processes, including cell motility, division, endocytosis, and metastasis of cancer cells.
Actin cytoskeleton dynamics can produce pushing, pulling, and resistance forces that help the cell to migrate....
7.2K
Mechanism of Filopodia Formation01:39

Mechanism of Filopodia Formation

3.5K
Filopodia are thin, actin-rich cellular protrusions that play an important role in many fundamental cellular functions. They vary in their occurrence, length, and positioning in different cell types, suggesting their diverse roles.
Their main function is to guide migrating cells during normal tissue morphogenesis or cancer metastasis by recognizing and making initial contacts with the extracellular matrix. However, they can also act as stationary cell anchors or help to establish communication...
3.5K
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures01:32

Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

2.8K
Complex microtubule structures are present in resting cells and in dividing cells. In resting cells, they are responsible for maintaining the cellular architecture, tracks for intracellular transport, positioning of organelles, assembly of cilia and flagella. They mediate the bipolar spindle assembly for chromosomal segregation and positioning of the cell division plate in dividing cells. The formation of microtubule complex structures depends on the cell type, cell stage, and cell function.
2.8K
Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation01:31

Mechanism of Lamellipodia Formation

4.0K
Cells migrating in response to external stimuli form lamellipodia, which are thin membrane protrusions supported by a mesh of linked, branched, or unbranched actin filaments. These actin filaments interact with myosin motor proteins, creating the dynamic actomyosin complex within the cytoskeleton. Contractility, or the ability to generate contractile stress, is inherent to the actomyosin complex. It helps cells detect the stiffness of the surrounding ECM and exert contractile force for...
4.0K
Cell Motility through Blebbing01:16

Cell Motility through Blebbing

2.7K
Blebs are a type of membrane protrusion formed by the internal hydrostatic pressure of the cytoplasm. Blebs are observed in several cell types, including fibroblasts, immune cells, and single-celled organisms like the amoeba. The primary function of blebs is cell locomotion and apoptosis, but they are also found during necrosis and cell division. The life cycle of a bleb comprises an initiation phase followed by the expansion and retraction phases.
Blebbing Through the Matrix
In multicellular...
2.7K
Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments01:11

Formation of Higher-order Actin Filaments

3.9K
The polymerization of G-actin monomers into filamentous F-actin is a multi-step process. Once the F-actins are formed, they can bundle together in different arrangements to form higher-order networks and regulate cellular functions. Common examples include the formation of lamellipodia and filopodia at the cell's leading edge by actin reorganization in a migrating cell. The microvilli on the brush border epithelial cells are also formed through the F-actin network.
The high-order actin...
3.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Trem2 exacerbates ischemic brain injury through Gpnmb in a photothrombotic stroke model.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Effects of FKBP5 on Stroke Outcome in Mice and Men: A Translational Study.

Stroke·2026
Same author

The functional role of glial cells in the pathologic brain as reviewed by Alois Alzheimer in 1910.

Molecular neurodegeneration·2026
Same author

Non-hematopoietic erythropoietin splice variant is produced in the diseased human brain and confers neuroprotection.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same author

Fusion Strategy Evaluation for Clustering Depression Subtypes Using Multimodal Physiological and Social Data.

Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference·2025
Same author

Extracellular microRNAs modulate human microglial function through TLR8.

Frontiers in immunology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Two-photon Imaging of Microglial Processes' Attraction Toward ATP or Serotonin in Acute Brain Slices
07:27

Two-photon Imaging of Microglial Processes' Attraction Toward ATP or Serotonin in Acute Brain Slices

Published on: January 31, 2019

10.5K

Actin dynamics shape microglia effector functions.

Ria Uhlemann1, Karen Gertz1,2, Wolfgang Boehmerle1

  • 1Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117, Berlin, Germany.

Brain Structure & Function
|May 21, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Altering actin dynamics in microglia impacts their functions. Impaired dynamics reduce alternative activation and some inflammatory responses but increase others, affecting neurodegeneration research.

Keywords:
Actin cytoskeletonGelsolinInflammationMicroglia polarization

More Related Videos

Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain
10:40

Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain

Published on: October 27, 2019

35.8K
Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility
07:54

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

Published on: April 13, 2017

10.5K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 12, 2026

Two-photon Imaging of Microglial Processes' Attraction Toward ATP or Serotonin in Acute Brain Slices
07:27

Two-photon Imaging of Microglial Processes' Attraction Toward ATP or Serotonin in Acute Brain Slices

Published on: January 31, 2019

10.5K
Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain
10:40

Immunofluorescence Staining Using IBA1 and TMEM119 for Microglial Density, Morphology and Peripheral Myeloid Cell Infiltration Analysis in Mouse Brain

Published on: October 27, 2019

35.8K
Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility
07:54

Rapid and Refined CD11b Magnetic Isolation of Primary Microglia with Enhanced Purity and Versatility

Published on: April 13, 2017

10.5K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cell Biology
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Actin filament dynamics are crucial for cellular functions.
  • Microglia play key roles in brain health and neurodegeneration.
  • Microglia activation states (classical and alternative) influence disease pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how altered actin dynamics affect microglia effector functions.
  • To understand the impact on both classical and alternative microglia activation pathways.
  • To explore the role of actin dynamics in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic and pharmacological manipulations of actin dynamics in microglia.
  • Analysis of gene transcription for inflammatory and alternative activation markers.
  • Measurement of cytokine and protein secretion (NO, TNF-alpha, IL-6, IGF-1, IL-1beta, IL-18).
  • Assessment of microglia migration, proliferation, and phagocytosis.
  • Measurement of intracellular calcium levels.

Main Results:

  • Disrupted actin dynamics downregulated IL-4 induced alternative activation genes.
  • Impaired actin dynamics reduced NO, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IGF-1 release.
  • Actin cytoskeleton stabilization increased IL-1beta and IL-18 release.
  • Actin disruption reduced microglia migration, proliferation, and phagocytosis.
  • Gelsolin deficiency increased intracellular calcium levels.

Conclusions:

  • Actin cytoskeleton dynamics profoundly influence distinct microglia behaviors.
  • Disrupted actin dynamics impair M2 polarization by affecting alternative activation gene transcription.
  • Actin remodeling's role in classical activation is complex, impacting cytokine secretion differently based on pathway.